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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 is a budget-friendly option, ideal for general use with decent battery life and portability, making it suitable for on-the-go tasks or office work. It comes with integrated graphics, which are fine for everyday applications but not designed for heavy 3D applications or gaming. The MSI Pulse GL66, on the other hand, is a midrange-priced laptop that offers far superior performance with its dedicated graphics card, making it a better choice for gaming, 3D modeling, or machine learning work. However, it is heavier and likely to have a shorter battery life, which may not be ideal if portability is a top priority. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Latitude 14 7490
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
5.9
7.2
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 is fair for gaming and 3D due to its basic Intel UHD Graphics 620 and a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which are modest for gaming requirements. In contrast, the MSI Pulse GL66 is good for these tasks because it has a powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, offering better performance and smoother visuals during gaming and 3D rendering.
Engineering and Design
6.5
7.5
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is only fair.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490, with a capable processor and ample memory, offers decent performance for engineering but is limited by its basic integrated graphics, which is why it is fair for design use, while its good portability and keyboard make it suitable for mobile professionals. In contrast, the MSI Pulse GL66 has a high-performance CPU, substantial memory, and a powerful dedicated GPU, making it good for engineering and design applications that require demanding graphics processing, but its lesser portability and keyboard quality reflect trade-offs for these capabilities.
Screen Quality
6.7
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
305.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490, with its better resolution and brightness, provides a more pleasant viewing experience for general tasks and detailed work in engineering and design, where color accuracy is crucial. However, its lower refresh rate is a drawback for gaming and 3D applications, where fluid motion is key for an immersive experience. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66's moderate screen attributes don't excel in any specific area but offer an adequate display for both daily activities and technical work, yet it also falls short for gaming and 3D content due to its refresh rate.
Battery
9.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has very good portability, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$300
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a price of $300 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.2
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
305.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for general use.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 is favored for general use due to its balance of a proficient CPU, ample RAM, high-quality screen, and long battery life, all wrapped in a lightweight and portable design. The MSI Pulse GL66, while also having a strong CPU and sufficient RAM, offers a high-quality screen more suitable for gaming and is a heavier option, with superior graphic performance but shorter battery life, making it less ideal for prolonged mobility. Both laptops provide a solid keyboard and storage capacity, but the Dell stands out for those prioritizing portability and long battery life, and the MSI is suited for users who need powerful graphics for gaming or creative applications.
Content Creation
7.3
7.2
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.1
7.0
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Build Quality
7.4
7.4
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Latitude 14 7490 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Latitude 14 7490 | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2018 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13'' x 8.7'' x 0.8'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.11 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.7" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-8650U | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 60 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 305 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.2/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell Latitude 14 7490
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Henry T. Casey | April 2018
"The Dell Latitude 7490's got the speed you need (and then some), a keyboard that's comfortable enough for writing all day long and a battery that supports a full 8-hour workday. If only the display were brighter and it managed heat better. If you need every minute of battery life you can get, the extended-battery version of the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 lasts 8 hours longer than the Latitude 7490, but its display is much less colorful."
MSI Pulse GL66
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NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | April 2022
"The MSI Pulse GL66 has a lot of potential for improvement. Although the RTX 3060 is only able to use 105 watts, we still liked the gaming performance, particularly since this also makes the Pulse comfortably efficient but not slow by any means. Neither the dark display with its lame response times, nor USB 2.0 or the lack of Thunderbolt will please real gamers. The use of a sticker factory seal, which is at least questionable, also won't inspire any enthusiasm. It is obvious that the laptop is really designed for price-conscious gamers."
Get a great deal on the Dell Latitude 14 7490 or the MSI Pulse GL66
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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